Living With and Caring For Feelings After College

Feeling miserable over the course of your college years is normal, but you will have to learn to grow and learn to deal with those feelings. Feelings are a natural part of college life, but there are some things you can do to make them easier to deal with. It’s never too early to start working on yourself so you can reach your goals in life. Here are some tips for how to deal with those feelings of sadness or depression as you start university:

First, know that you are not alone. Everyone deals with feeling depressed from time to time during college. Don’t let that grief go on for too long because it will only get worse if you don’t take steps to deal with it. There are plenty of support groups at universities for those who are feeling down.

Second, be patient with yourself. If you let those negative feelings keep you from living the life you want or accomplishing the tasks you have set for yourself at university, you won’t get very far. You’ll also miss out on developing important friendships or even meaningful connections that will benefit you later. Remember that everyone experiences different feelings. If you find yourself getting down, you can’t help but try to take a deep breath, relax, and think positive. Over time, you will become more able to handle your negative feelings.

Third, understand that you will have feelings that you will need to express. You might not like them but that is completely fine. You’ll have to let yourself be guided by those feelings. The worst thing you can do is ignore them and assume they will just go away. Instead, face up to them and deal with them head-on until they have gone away.

Fourth, accept that not everything will be perfect. Even though you are going to be attending university and have many opportunities to meet great people, you will still encounter struggles and difficulties. These things will be a part of growing and learning. It’s just part of the process. You can’t be too hard on yourself, because the more you push, the less you will learn.

Fifth, make sure you don’t make yourself responsible for every negative feeling that occurs. While it’s okay to be your own cheerleader and tell yourself that you can do it, don’t make it the sole focus of your daily goals. Make sure you also take care of yourself so you will be able to enjoy your college experience and your new, positive friends.

You can’t control everyone’s behavior or reactions around you. When you face up to your feelings and work through them, you can make them a little easier to manage. You can also learn how to be forgiving and more understanding. Sometimes all it takes is a willingness to try new strategies and techniques.

You’ll also find that your college experience will be a lot more fulfilling when you can get away from your feelings for a while and focus on the real business at hand: attending classes, taking tests, taking notes, making important decisions, and enjoying your time at school. This is what it’s all about. Enjoying your time at college will help you in many areas of your life, so don’t let your negative feelings hold you back. You will find that you’ll have much more opportunities to succeed when you can forget about feeling sad.

Your feelings are meant to help you grow and expand your world. That’s why there are so many relationships, friendships, and other meaningful moments that occur between students, faculty, staff, and others who come into contact with each other during the course of their college career. Remembering all the wonderful people you met during your time in college will help you make memories that last a lifetime. If you’re unable to let go of those feelings of sadness, fretting over the past may keep you from experiencing those precious memories and from living in the future.

After receiving your degree, you will probably spend several years working, playing, volunteering, or doing whatever else you must do to support yourself financially, physically, mentally, and emotionally. During this time, you should do everything you can to not think about your previous college experiences or about any struggles you may have had in those times. If you allow these feelings to distract you from your duties and responsibilities now, you may never be able to finish them, let alone complete your education.

If you allow yourself to feel sad, depressed, anxious, or lonely for a long time, you will never be able to complete your education and become successful in life. It is important to keep yourself busy, productive, and happy. If you find that you are feeling all these negative emotions and thoughts, make a commitment to change, face your problems, and take steps to ensure they do not sabotage your efforts in your new career, friends, or hobbies. You are what you put into your body. When you take care of your body now by eating right and exercising, you will be happy and healthy for many years to come.